Chance The Rapper Doesn’t Think Rappers Should Sign 360 Deals
Chance The Rapper has done things his own way in pretty much every step of his career. And so far, it's all working out to his advantage. Fresh off the release of his third mixtape Coloring Book, young Chano sat down with Apple Music and Beats 1 journalist Zane Lowe for a one-hour interview. Teasing snippets of the interview online today (May 23), the two got into the nitty gritty of what it's like for Chance to work with his heroes and stay independent. Listen to the interview on Beats 1 right here.
"I don't agree with the way labels are set up. I don't agree that anybody should sign 360 deals or sign away their publishing or take most of the infrastructure that's included in a formal deal. But I've learned to not be like 'Fuck this company and fuck this company' even though a lot of those people made it really hard for me to release my project."
When asked why, after all this time, he's still decided to give away his music for free, Chance broke it down to remaining authentic to how he started.
"I think a big part of it is that we are at such a crucial time in terms of music. I know it's being highly publicized now...the charts are already changing to include streaming. I still don't necessarily agree with how they measure, it's like every thousand streams is a sale? I don't really care about that, but at least they're starting to make that move and the Grammys are starting to make that move...I know I did the three projects exactly how I wanted to and they were mixtapes and that's where I came from."
The topics of authenticity and independence are nothing new for Chance. Though he's become a bigger force in music than ever before, the 23-year-old MC has remained steadfast (and vocal) in his opposition against major record labels pretty much since he blew up with Acid Rap back in 2013. The former XXL Freshman has been a coveted name for almost every major label in the business not only because of his talent, but for his organic and diehard fanbase and unorthodox business sense. The Chicago rapper once again proved doing things differently could work when he put on a world event called the Magnificent Coloring World, complete with performances and interactive play stations in Chicago over the weekend. And Chance recently made history as the first artist to ever appear on the Billboard charts with streaming numbers only.
Chano also touched on working with one of his biggest inspirations, Kanye West, on "All We Got," the gospel-inspired standout from Coloring Book.
"That record is perfect because it wasn't the first record we made for it but just like 'Good Ass Intro,' it kinda ended up being the thesis to the project."
Zane's full interview with Chance will drop on May 24 at 1 P.M. E.S.T. In the meantime, take what you will from the interview's best soundbites above and below.
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